Game counter



Jan. 4,1927. 1,613,575

K. E. BREWER GAME COUNTER Filed Oct. 22, 1925 Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

nutren sA'rns lillS KENNETH E. BREWER, OF CHCAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSGNR TO GRAS. A. BREWER @s SNS, A FIRM COMPOSED OF CHARLES A. BREWER, NELSN C. BREWER, KENNETH E. BREWER, AND EVERETT R. BREWER, OF CHCAGO, ILLINOIS. i

GAME COUNTER.

Application filed October 22, 1925. Serial No. 64,090.

rhis invention relates to improvements in game counters or boards, and has reference more particularly to that type wherein one or more balls are contined within a hollow structure the bottom of which is. formed with cavities or pockets into which the balls, the device having `been shaken, come to rest; the cavities or rows of cavities having different value or character designations identilied by indicia located opposite the same which determine the values or characters of each throw. ln its principal contemplated use the device is intended to take the place of the ordinary dice shaker and dice used as an auxiliary in such games as backgammon to determine the extent of progressive movements toward a goal. It may also be used as a bagatelle board or the like, constituting in itself a com lete Game device of the chance variety.

One simple practical embodiment of the invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing,.in which- Fig. l is a top plan View;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section in the vertical plane of one of the fastening devices on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates a bottom plate preferably a sheet of cardboard or the like, on which is placed a somewhat thicker plate 6 that constitutes a false bottom and is formed with a large number of round holes or ball pockets 7, these latter being preferably grouped in longitudinal and transverse rows, as clearly shown in Fig. l. Superposed upon the false bottom 6 is a still thicker plate 8 of wood, heavy cardboard, or any other suitable material, which plate is formed with a central oblong opening 9, the side and end walls of which determine the lateral boundaries of the chamber within which the round balls or dice are free to move when the board is tilted or shaken. Pasted on the upper surface of the intermediate plate 8 is a sheet of paper 10 in which is formed an oblong opening registering with the opening 9. The upper surface of the sheet 10 is ruled crosswise to form on each side of the central chamber 9 parallel spaces ll which lie opposite the ends of the transverse rows of holes 7; and-in these spaces are printed value or character designating indicia, such as the duplicate groups ol' numerals shown in Fig. l. These indicia are preferably se grouped as to be of minimum value at the ends of the playing field and of progressively increasing value from the ends tothe middle; the object? of this arrangement being to prevent any advantage to the player from tilting the board endwise to thereby cause the counters to roll toward the lower end when n'laking a play. lt will be observed that the two rows of nunierals on `opposite sides of the central chamber respectively are relatively inverted so as to be easily readable whichever end of the board is uppermost. l/Vithin the chamber or playing field 9 are a plurality of counters or dice taking the form of round balls l2 of a size to just seat in any of the pockets 7. @verlying the paper sheet 1 0 is a sheet of isinglass or other transparent substance.designated by 13, and permanently enclosing and sealing the side and end margins of the assembled structure are U-shaped binding strips lll preferably of cloth or tape; the complete assembly being securely united by wire staples l5.

In the preferred manner of using the device, the players turn the shaker bottom side up, shake it edgewis-e a few times, and then drop it face side up on the table. The player having the highest sum total, as shown by the numbers opposite the rows in which the balls lodge, becomes player No. l., etc. ln liguring the shaker counts, a. player may use the .number designated by each ball, or the sum total ofv the numbers designated by all the balls. When two, three or more balls lodge in the same transverse row, the player may double, triple, etc. the number designating that row.

Various modifications and refinements may be added to the simple form of the invention illustrated, if desired, to widen the scope of the device and heighten the playing interest; as, for example, certain holes or rows of holes may be colored differently, and the balls may be correspondingly colored, with a double or otherwise increased value on any ball coming to rest in a hole or row of its own color. Again, in using the device with games wherein different colors indicating progressive steps or stages in the playing of the game are em-' ployed, colors may be used in lieu ot the numerals shown to indicate such steps or stages determined by the throws.

The device constructed substantially as shown and described can beV simply and cheaply made in a size such that it may conveniently beicarried in a vest pocket, and hence constitutes a handy and convenient game counter or shaker less bulky and more convenient to carry about than the ordinary dice boxand dice. Vhile I have shown the board equipped with a pair of balls or counters, it is manifest that any number from one up may be employed, as desired.

I claiml. A game counter ot' the character described, comprising a fiat rectangular permanently closed box 'formed with a central elongated narrow sealed chamber having a transparent top wall, and a flat bottom wall formed withball pockets grouped in longitudinal and transverse rows relatively to said chamber, one or more balls in said chant ber, and duplicate groups of play value indicating numerals located one on each side of said chamber opposite the respective transverse rows of ball pockets, said numerals being progressively arranged from lowest to highest from the ends to the center otl said chamber, and all the numerals Von the two sides being relatively inverted to facilitate reading of the same with either end of the box uppermost.

2. A game counter of the character described, comprising a rectangular bottom plate, a lalse bottom overlying said bottom plate and formed with transverse rows ot ball pockets, a relatively thick plate superposed on said false bottom and formed with a central elongated opening defining the lateral boundaries of the playing chamber, balls in said chamber, play value identifying` characters on the longitudinal sides et the upper surface ot said thick plate located opposite the respective rows ot pockets, a transparent plate overlying said thick plate, and means for uniting said plates at their margins.

3. A gaine counter of the character described, comprising a rectangular bottom plate, a false bottom overlying said bottoni plate and formed with transverse rows of ball pockets, a relatively thick plate superposed on said false bottoni and formed with a central elongated opening delining the lateral boundaries otl the playing` chamber, balls in said chamber, play value identitying characters on the longitudinal sides ot the upper surface of said thick plate located opposite the respective rows of pockets, a transparent plate overlying said thick plate, a flexible binding strip covering the marginal portions oit said plates, and wire staples passed Ythrough and uniting said binding` strip and marginal portions.

KENNETH E. BREWER. 

